Wales to help dent England World Cup bid with Uruguay and Italy friendlies

Wales could help scupper England’s World Cup chances by playing warm-up matches against Roy Hodgson’s Group D rivals Uruguay and Italy.

Gareth Bale and his team-mates have been approached by England’s opponents in Brazil, who want a run-out against similar opposition in May — a month before the World Cup kicks off on June 12.

Both countries considered playing the Republic of Ireland and Scotland but Wales are the preferred choice. The Welsh agreeing to help England’s rivals would no doubt anger Three Lions fans — and not for the first time.

Behind enemy lines: Gareth Bale's Wales have been lined up to play Uruguay and Italy in friendlies

In the four months before the 2006 World Cup Wales played Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, both in England’s group. They also faced Argentina in the build-up to the 2002 World Cup and met Portugal just 10 days before England were beaten 3-2 by the same opposition at Euro 2000.

In Euro 1996 Wales played Switzerland two months before the Swiss played in the same group as England and Scotland.

Talks have taken place over the matches, with the United States being considered as a potential venue. Several countries hope to base training camps there before heading for Brazil.

Planning: England manager Roy Hodgson will soon be masterminding his own side's World Cup campaign

Scotland had scheduled a friendly with Uruguay in November but that was shelved when the South Americans faced Jordan in a play-off after failing to qualify automatically.

Wales are ranked 56th in the world but boast two of Europe’s in-form players in Real Madrid’s Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal. Both Uruguay and Italy want to meet a variety of opposition, with Australia also mooted as prospective opponents.